CMA Awards: Carrie Underwood Stepping Down as Host After 12 Years

Rebecca Iannucci

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This is a breakup worthy of a country song: Carrie Underwood is stepping down as host of the CMA Awards after 12 years of broadcasts.

The singer broke the news to fans in an Instagram post on Monday, revealing that “it’s time to pass the hosting torch (at least for now!)” after an eventful decade-plus of emceeing the show.

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“It’s hard to imagine topping what we have accomplished together,” Underwood wrote, adding that she hopes her successor, whomever that might be, will “cherish it and honor it as much as I do.”

Country artist Brad Paisley, who Underwood called “my partner in crime and friend for life” in her announcement, co-hosted with the singer for 11 of her 12 years. In 2019, she was joined by country music legends Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire, which she described as “one of the highlights of 2019 and of my entire career so far.”

“I’m so proud that we could celebrate the incredible female artists that are part of the legacy of country music, past, present and future, and I’m thankful for the huge audiences all over the world that tuned in to see it,” she said. “I’ve got so many exciting things coming in the new year and beyond, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for all of us.”

A date has not yet been set for the 2020 CMA Awards. Will you miss Underwood as host?

View this post on Instagram

One of the highlights of 2019 and of my entire career so far was being on stage with the legends that are Reba and Dolly Parton. I’m so proud that we could celebrate the incredible female artists that are part of the legacy of country music, past, present and future, and I’m thankful for the huge audiences all over the world that tuned in to see it. It’s hard to believe that it was my 12th year hosting and I will always treasure every show, from the 11 that I was so lucky to do with my partner in crime and friend for life, Brad Paisley, to sharing the stage with two of my all-time heroes. I’m so incredibly grateful to everyone involved with the CMA Awards all these years. It’s hard to imagine topping what we have accomplished together, so I’ve decided that it’s time to pass the hosting torch (at least for now!) to others that will cherish it and honor it as much as I do. I’ve got so many exciting things coming in the new year and beyond, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for all of us. #blessed #MemorableMoments

A post shared by Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) on Dec 30, 2019 at 11:03am PST

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